The West Chicago Wildcats’ season ended in a hard-fought battle against the Normal Community Ironmen, falling 41-16, but the scoreboard could not capture the grit and heart that carried them there. In their final game, the Wildcats showed the strength of a team that has become a family, built brick by brick over ten months of dedication and determination.
After unloading the coach bus that took the Cats down to Normal Community High School, the team formed two lines to take to the field for initial warm-ups and run throughs, just as the sun set. Players were locked and loaded for whatever their coaches threw at them on the field, and they needed to be: Normal Community was undefeated in their conference this season, and had only one loss overall coming into playoffs. They were a high-caliber opponent for West Chicago.
“Play 100 percent, not the ‘125 percent.’ I believe [in] 100 percent, and that is it,” assistant coach David Muenster said just before the game got underway.
Before the game, captain Carter Naranjo inspired the team to play their all, describing the group’s bond as being closer than brothers.
“We got heart – that’s what makes us who we are. We keep making history every single year, let’s build off of that. Love each other and build each other up,” Naranjo, a junior, said.
Indeed, the Wildcats have been making history: last year marked the first time in more than two decades the team has finished their regular season with a playoff bid. This year, West Chicago went 6-3 overall and 3-3 in conference.
“Play tough, play physical. Leave nothing else on the field. Empty the tank, no matter what,” head coach Adam Chavez said as the Wildcats took to the field.
Normal Community set the tone early, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, putting the Wildcats behind 6-0. The Ironmen added two more touchdowns by halftime, building a substantial 34-0 lead.
As the team struggled to gain ground, Chavez talked to his defensive line, stressing every play matters. Persistence and consistency are at the very foundation of Wildcat football, and Chavez encouraged the players to bounce back.
“Extend your life one more week tonight. They’re gonna make plays, we’re gonna make plays. If they make a good play, rub it off, you make a better play your next one,” Chavez said.
The Wildcats kept their energy up, rallying in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns and successful two-point conversions.
“I find the strength to keep on pushing in tough games through the love of the sport, and not wanting to give up on myself and on my team, and to prove that – even in doubt – that I and the team would never give up,” senior Angelo Jimenez said.
This late push put the Wildcats on the board, bringing the final score to 41-16.
With defeat, the players came together as a group, and emotions were high. For some, the Nov. 1 playoff game marked he last time they would put on a jersey or step out onto a football field – for others, it was the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another.
“I couldn’t be more proud of you guys as a coach. I love all of you guys like my children. Live in heart, live in passion, live in toughness,” Chavez said.
Junior Jayden Rosario knelt down, listening intently as Chavez addressed the team. For Rosario, it was a bittersweet moment — the last game he’d share with his senior teammates who had become like brothers. Together, they had pushed through every challenge, climbing to new heights over the past two seasons. The 2024 team was not just a group of players; it was a second home.
“Juniors got taught a lot from these seniors that we call family,” Rosario said.
Although the 2024 season came to an end last night, Rosario remains optimistic for the future of the team.
“I hope the juniors will succeed next year, and even bring it back to a home game and have a full stand watching us play,” Rosario said.
Likewise, captain Naranjo is confident that with the team’s head coach, the juniors can continue to build upon what they have started.
“This whole team, since Chavez got here, we’ve all been here, we all built this up,” Naranjo said.
After the loss, coaches embraced their players, many of whom were in tears. The mental toughness it takes to be an athlete is like no other. For the Wildcats, the past ten months have been about more than just football; they created a family, a home on the field.
“[This] season, we proved ourselves once more as possibly one of the best teams this school has had in years, and I’m proud of us for making history for two years in a row,” Jimenez said.
Coach Muenster comforted Jimenez, who played his last game for the Wildcats, after the loss.
“The message I want players to take after the season is ‘When you put in the work and do the small things right you will reep many benefits on and of the filed to be successful, never settle for average and always excel in whatever you do,'” Muenster said.
Even though the Wildcats lost, brick by brick, they stand strong on the foundation they built, and nothing can tear it down.